Denmark’s prime minister held a 45-minute phone conversation with Donald Trump where she says she delivered the same message about Greenland as the territory’s leader: it’s not for sale.
The official readout of PM Mette Frederiksen’s call addressed in black and white one of the most stunning issues of the presidential transition: Trump describing U.S. ownership of the world’s largest island an ‘absolute necessity.’
Trump also refused to rule out military and economic force to obtain it, brandishing a version of the manifest destiny and expansionism that were part of the country’s early history.
‘In the conversation, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening security in the Arctic, and that the Kingdom of Denmark is ready to shoulder even greater responsibility for this,’ according to Frederiksen’s office.
‘In the conversation, the Prime Minister referred to the statements of the Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament, Múte B. Egede, that Greenland is not for sale, and the Prime Minister has argued that it is up to Greenland itself to make a decision on independence,’ the statement continued.
Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen has released a readout on her 45-minute call with Donald Trump, where she says they discussed Greenland
According to the readout, he also spoke about the way Greenland already contributes to U.S. security. It has a renamed Space Force base, and has a territorial relationship with a NATO ally who subsidizes Greenland to the tune of about $500 million a year.
Frederiksen said in a TV interview last week that ‘Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.’
The latest development follows Donald Trump, Jr.’s visit to Greenland, which itself came after the Danish king changed the royal coat of arms to reflect the importance of the island.
On Tuesday Greenland’s premier, Egede, spoke of his desire for Greenlandic independence, even while vowing to work with the U.S. ‘The reality is we are going to work with the U.S. — yesterday, today and tomorrow,’ he said in Nuuk, the island’s capital.
‘We have to be very smart on how we act,’ he added. ‘The power struggles between the superpowers are rising and are now knocking on our door.’
Trump has called obtaining U.S. control of Greenland an ‘absolute necessity’
Greenland is rich in minerals and has a strategic location in the Artic, although an inhospitable climate
Greenland’s ice sheet has been melting
Greenland, a former colony of Denmark since the 18th century, became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953.
The island gained the right to declare independence through a public vote in 2009 — a move Egede strongly supports.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance dismissed Trump’s threat of military force in comments to Fox News Sunday, although he highlighted Greenland’s strategic importance and its rich resources.
But Trump critics have warned his repeated comments about Greenland risk alienating a U.S. ally. His comments, along with his demand for the Panama Canal and repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state, also have muddied U.S. comments condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A pro-Putin MP has now spoken publicly about carving up the island between Russia and the U.S.
According to the Danish PM’s readout, the two also spoke about the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as China. Trump allies have pointed to China as a reason to pursue Greenland to avoid its influence.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Trump transition for comment on the call.
